Time to abolish unfair energy appeals
At their meeting in Melbourne this week, Energy Ministers from around the country will consider an issue that has the potential to save households and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars each y...
Power price shock – fake discounts gouge Victorians
Energy price rises announced today will hit Victorians hard as the Consumer Action Law Centre warns energy companies to remember that their product is an essential service. "Over 60,000 Victorians...
iTutor Learning Systems
Consumer Action has assisted a Somali woman to file a complaint relating to education software, iTutor Learning Systems. The software was sold to the woman in her home by a salesperson representing Vi...
Transition to Metering Competition in Victoria
The Alternative Technology Association (ATA), Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), and Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) welcome the opportunity to respond to the Energy Policy and Pr...
Submission on the proposed safety net for energy consumers facing payment difficulty
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Financial and Consumer Rights Council (FCRC) welcome the opportunity to comment on the Commission’s proposed safety net for energy consumers facing...
Parliamentary Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to contribute to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Retirement Housing, which we believes speaks to a real and urgent need for more effective re...
Second-hand cars: No warranty? No worries
Victorians have been handed a huge win after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) confirmed that a car dealer can still be responsible for problems with a faulty car even where there...
Submission: Applications for authorisation—A191556-A91557 Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Australia Pty Ltd & Ors
This submission focuses on the public benefit and detriment of the proposal for consumers. Any benefits to motor vehicle dealerships or insurers are private and not public in nature, and we do not b...
Inquiry into the VET Student Loans Bill 2016, the VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016 and the VET Student Loans (Charges) Bill 2016
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to make this submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Education and Employment in relation to the Inquiry into the VET Student Loans Bill...
Consumer Protections for Behind the Meter electricity supply
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) and Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) welcome the opportunity to respond to the Council of Australian Governments Energy Council (Energy Council) c...
Eager homebuyers still falling victim to shadowy rent-to-buy deals
Eileen Webb, Curtin University and Allan Fels, University of Melbourne Those looking to get a piece of the Australian dream of buying a home are still falling victim to the shadow property market o...
Junk insurance victims fight back as ASIC report damns industry
Australians sold junk insurance are demanding their money back as ASIC releases a damning report into the atrocious value and shocking sales practices at car yards. The ASIC “A market that is faili...
General Exemption Order Review
Consumer Action has joined with Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre to make a submission to the Department of Land, Water and Planning Position Paper on the General Exemptions Order. The Paper proposes...
Speech to the ACPET National Conference 25 August 2016, Hobart
On Wednesday, 18 May 2016, Consumer Action's Director of Policy & Campaigns Denise Boyd gave a speech to the ACPET National Conference on telling the stories of our clients who have been impacted...
Legal action against Get Qualified Australia
Consumer Action has assisted a 34 year old migrant to take legal action against Get Qualified Australia. GQA claims to assist people with the process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is an...
Power Transformed
The rapid development of new technology in electricity supply is disrupting the traditional means of delivery of this essential service. As in other sectors, the consumer is at the heart of these chan...
Power Transformed
The rapid development of new technology in electricity supply is disrupting the traditional means of delivery of this essential service. As in other sectors, the consumer is at the heart of these chan...
Submission to the ESC Water Pricing Approach Review
Consumer Action has partnered with the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre and the Victorian Council of Social Service to provide a submission to the Essential Services Commission Position Paper, A New...
Review of Enforcement Regimes under the National Energy Laws: Proposed policy positions for consultation
Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the opportunity to comment on the consultation paper, Review of Enforcement Regimes under the National Energy Laws: Proposed policy positions for consultation, rele...
Parliamentary Inquiry into the Retirement Housing Sector
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action), Council on the Ageing Victoria (COTA), Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG), Justice Connect (Seniors Law) (Justice Connect) and Residents of Reti...
Redesigning VET FEE-HELP – responding to the Discussion Paper
Consumer Action is pleased to comment on the Australian Government's discussion paper outlining a raft of proposed changes to the VET FEE-HELP system. We have responded positively to a number of key s...
Submission to AER on its approval of minimum amount owing for disconnection
Consumer Action has provided a submission to the Australian Energy Regulator on its approval of the minimum amount owing for disconnection of electricity or gas under the National Energy Retail Rules....
AER Electricity Ring-Fencing Guideline
Ring-fencing is undertaken when a monopoly business also operates in a contestable market, and some form of functional separation is deemed necessary to ensure the market remains competitive. Read...
Submission to the AER Draft Sustainable Payment Plan Framework
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to provide comment on the AER Draft Sustainable Payment Plan Framework (the draft framework). Read our full submission here [PDF]...
Submission to ESC’s Draft Energy Compliance and Enforcement Policy, April 2016
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) wishes to make a brief submission to the Essential Services Commission’s (the Commission) consultation on its Draft Energy Compliance and Enforcement P...
Residential Tenancies Act review: Issues Paper 3 – Rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to comment on Issues Paper 3 - Rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants as part of Consumer Affairs Victoria's (CAV's) review of the...
A VET FEE-HELP Ombudsman will help victims of Australia’s VET scandal
Australians duped by Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers and brokers into signing up to dodgy courses are a step closer to receiving justice today. The Federal Government has released...
Price Review 2016: Melbourne Water – Essential Services Commission Draft Decision
The Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC) and the Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC) welcome the opportunity to comment on the Essential Service Commission’s (Commission) Price Review 2016: Melbour...
Australians urged to fight back against junk insurance and demand over $70m in refunds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLFnf30Qu6k Australians could be due for over $70m* worth of refunds each year for insurance and warranty products they don’t even know they’ve bought. The latest...
Energy retailers to help Victorians stay out of debt: Consumer Groups
Energy retailers are to provide improved, targeted assistance to customers experiencing financial difficulty under a proposed new regulatory framework announced by the Andrews Government today. The fr...
Vendor terms and rent-to-buy schemes
Vendor terms or 'rent-to-buy' schemes promise to help you buy property when you don’t have the income, savings or credit history to get a regular mortgage. Often there’s a broker or agent who advertis...
Submission to The Treasury on priorities for 2016-17 Federal Budget
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into The Treasury’s budget development for financial year 2016-17. The stated aim of the Government in inviting s...
Good communication the key to successful electricity tariff reform: Gerard Brody
In response to "Andrews Government accused of killing $1.6b benefit of tariff changes" (3/2/2016) in the Australian Financial Review: Claims that the Victorian Andrews Government’s ‘backing away’ f...
Submission to the 2016 Retail Competition Review Approach Paper (RPR0004)
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the approach to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) 2016 Retail Competition Review (the Review)....
Further Education and Training (Training Ombudsman) And Another Act Amendment Bill 2015 (QLD)
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Further Education and Training (Training Ombudsman) And Another Act Amendment Bill 2015 (Bill) (QLD) Read o...
Training Provider Open Colleges sued for breach of consumer law
As the crisis in Vocational Education deepens, another student is fighting back by taking on education provider Open Colleges in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Tanea Ferris (a 52...
Reforming vocational education: it’s time to end the exploitation of vulnerable people
Mary Leahy, University of Melbourne Australia’s vocational education sector is a mess. Tightening regulation and tweaking some of the settings will contain the damage, but these measures alone w...
Junk merchants fleecing millions from unknowing Australians
Unknowing Australians could be paying millions of dollars for junk insurance according to a new report from Consumer Action Law Centre. The ‘Junk Merchants’ report says that Consumer Credit (CCI) a...
VET Sector needs a national ombudsman: Consumer Action
Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes reforms announced today by the Federal Government for the vocational education and training (VET) sector and calls for the establishment of a national ombudsman sch...
Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015 Inquiry
Consumer Action Law Centre provides free legal advice and pursues litigation on behalf of vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers across Victoria. In recent years we have built up substantial experienc...
Submission to the draft AER (Retail) Exempt Selling Guidelines
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) is pleased to provide comment on the revised AER (Retail) Exempt Selling Guideline (the Guideline). Read our full submission here [PDF]....
Acquiring a long list of complaints on privacy
The privacy commissioner has been called in to investigate allegations that the Privacy Act is being flaunted by an education company targeting job-seekers to sell vocational courses. Consumer Acti...
Retirement living parliamentary event
Consumer Action hosted a morning tea at Parliament House on 9 October 2015 which brought together over 70 retirement housing residents with their local parliamentarians. It was a hugely successful d...
The common car product you might get a refund for
Australians are demanding better from the products sold with used cars and winning. Sarah from Melbourne’s south east thought she had to buy an extended warranty in order to get a loan. Consumer Ac...
Used car warranties: Phil’s story
Phil* bought a used car as a gift for his granddaughter in October 2014. He also bought a motor vehicle warranty from National Warranty Company. Phil paid $4500 for the car and $295 for the warranty....
Senate inquiry backs VET Industry Ombudsman
Consumer Action Law Centre reiterates its call for the establishment of an Industry Ombudsman in the vocational education sector as recommended in a Senate report released today. The release of "Th...
Still too many Victorians choosing between heat or eat – response to EWOV annual report: Consumer Action
Consumer Action Law Centre welcomes the significant drop in complaints to the Energy and Water Ombudsman (EWOV), but says there are still too many Victorians struggling with utilities. “It’s welcom...
Submission to the Energy Hardship Inquiry Draft Report
Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Essential Services Commission's (the Commission) Inquiry into the financial hardship arrangements of ene...
‘Lemon’ laws – An inquiry into consumer protections and remedies for buyers of new motor vehicles
The Consumer Action Law Centre (Consumer Action) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the need to improve the consumer protections and remedies for buyers of ‘lemon’ motor vehicles. We strongly sup...
Used car warranties: Christian’s story
Christian (name changed) bought a second hand car in late 2014. He had had gearbox trouble with a previous car which cost him a lot of money, so when he noticed advertising for National Warranty Compa...